Charles Thompson  (1891-1964)
Last updated: 01.02.24
According to the Internet source given below, Charles Thompson was an American ragtime pianist who lived for the most part of his life in St. Louis, Missouri. An autodidact without notational skills, he was considered by his contemporaries to be the best living ragtime pianist. In 1916 he was involved in a massive legendary ragtime piano competition in St. Louis whereby there were 68 participants. Amongst these included the best in St. Louis, to whit Thomas Million Turpin and all of the famous Police Gazette contest players. He was declared the Missouri State Champion after a two week competition.
After meeting James Price Johnson, an up-and-coming stride pianist, in 1919 his playing and compositions immediately reflected the Harlem piano sound resulting in some memorable blues tunes.
His only published work is The Lily Rag (1914), arranged by Artie Matthews and published by the Syndicate Music Company, St. Louis, Missouri and he is still remembered for his Delmar Rag composed sometime in the 1910's.


Websites:
url15.gif Charles Thompson Biography and list of works by "Perfessor" Bill Edwards  
  Title Co-Author(s) Sequencer
       
audiomidi15.gif Lily Rag (1914), The Colin McDonald
  Title (Release Year) Performers Instruments
       
audiodbemp315.gif Lily Rag (1914), The Midi Ragtime Recorder Ens. D/A/T/T/B/GB(B)
     Performer CD Title Supplier
       
Ragtime Music CDs:
cd15.gif Charles Thompson The Neglected Professor flag15us.gif flag15uk.gif flag15de.gif flag15fr.gif flag15ca.gif flag15it.gif flag15es.gif
cd15.gif Robert R. Darch Reunion in Ragtime flag15us.gif flag15uk.gif flag15de.gif flag15fr.gif flag15ca.gif
cd15.gif Eubie Blake Golden Reunion in Ragtime flag15us.gif
cd15.gif Eubie Blake That's Ragtime! flag15us.gif flag15uk.gif flag15de.gif flag15fr.gif flag15ca.gif flag15it.gif flag15es.gif
cd15.gif Adam Swanson Chestnut St. in the 90s CD(s) & MP3 Album(s) flag15us.gif flag15de.gif flag15fr.gif
cd15.gif Bill Edwards The Art of the Rag
Item Title Available €     £     $     Other
             
DBE648 The Lily Rag (1914)
D/A/T/T/B/GB(B), approx. 2½ mins.
1-2 days
other.gif
     Title Instruments Remarks
       
sm15.gif Lily Rag (1914), The D/A/T/T/B/GB(B) dbe15.gifwvicon.gif
This list is arranged in chronological order and contains 13 works by Charles Thompson (1891-1964). It does not claim to be complete and represents only the number of items located. Keys: ER
Title Year Attribution Remarks
       
Lily Rag, The 1914 Midi Ragtime Recorder Ensemble (perf.)  wvicon.gif audiomidi15.gif audiodbemp315.gif
Buffet Flat Rag ?
Centennial Rag ?
Chimes Blues ?
Deep Lawton ?
Delmar Blues ?
Delmar Rag ?
Derby Stomp ?
Hop Alley Dream ?
Lingering Blues ?
Mound City Walk Around ?
Rag Time Humming Bird ?
St. Louis Blues ?